People close to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis say he had already decided days ago to issue a strong response to those accusing the government of making concessions on foreign policy. The intensity of his remarks in last night’s interview on SKAI’s main newscast was unmistakable — even for those not familiar with the inner workings of the Maximos Mansion.

“Greece does not negotiate issues of sovereignty with Turkey. Greece will never accept any theory of so-called ‘grey zones’, and it will never tolerate Turkey dictating what we can or cannot do within areas of Greek sovereignty,” Mitsotakis said, addressing criticism both from Ankara and from domestic voices regarding the recent marine parks announcement, which was limited to territorial waters.

To dispel any lingering doubts, Mitsotakis went further — issuing a blunt rebuke to former Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis, once a close associate and still considered a confidant of former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

“Between 2004 and 2009, what major initiative was taken in Greek-Turkish relations? Because I don’t recall any,” he said pointedly, referencing the Karamanlis administration’s failed attempt to reach a maritime agreement with Libya.

He then pivoted to criticize what he called “keyboard diplomacy.”

“Those who practiced foreign policy but have nothing tangible to show for it should be more cautious. It’s easy to become a critic from the safety and distance of a screen once you’re no longer facing the realities and pressures of governing,” he remarked.

Asserting Initiative: “In Chess, I Play White”

Mitsotakis continued by rejecting what he called a doctrine of “blissful immobility,” asserting that recent Turkish reactions are, in fact, responses to Greece’s proactive policies.

“In chess, I prefer to play with white. I like to have the initiative. Many of the reactions we’ve seen recently are a direct result of actions taken by the Greek government,” he said.

Later in the evening, the Egyptian presidency confirmed a phone call between Mitsotakis and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Their conversation reportedly covered maritime zones and Libya. The Prime Minister also announced upcoming technical-level talks on the delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) between Greece and Western Libya. At the same time, he expressed support for Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis amid criticism over his handling of the issue.

Greek Veto on Turkey’s SAFE Participation

Mitsotakis also reaffirmed that Greece’s veto against Turkey joining the European defence program SAFE remains in place.

“As long as Turkey maintains a casus belli against Greece and raises sovereignty disputes in the Aegean, it will not join SAFE. Greece will block it. This is not a threat — it is clearly stipulated in the program’s regulations,” he emphasized. He added that Turkey must demonstrate in practice that it does not pose a threat to any European country if it wishes to participate.

Regarding Turkey’s potential acquisition of Eurofighter jets, Mitsotakis drew a comparison to 2019, when Turkey was expected to receive 100 F-35s but was ultimately removed from the program. Since then, he said, Greece has made strategic defense moves by acquiring Rafale and F-35 aircraft, shifting the balance of power in the Aegean.

“Above all, we must not be afraid. Nor should we exaggerate every move by our adversaries. We must stand our ground with confidence,” he said, expressing optimism that European partners will support conditionality measures ensuring that advanced weapons systems are not used against fellow EU countries.